Perrefitte
Encyclopedia
Perrefitte is a municipality
in the administrative district of Jura bernois in the canton
of Bern in Switzerland
. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura
(Jura Bernois).Its old German names Beffert and Pfeffert are no longer in use today.
In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SPS
which received 35.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP
(33.4%), the FDP
(12.4%) and the CSP
(8%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 22.9% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.5% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.6%. In Perrefitte about 69.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
).
The historical population is given in the following table:
, in the chain of the Jura Mountains
, on the left bank of the Chalière brook, which merges into the Birse
river in Moutier. It is the western part of the Grand Val (valley of Moutier). In the southern area Combe Fabet, a kind of small throat has formed a secondary valley, from where the Chalière flows down. The Moron
mountain marks the southern border of the community, rising to 1140 metres (3,740.2 ft) of altitude. To the North, the communal territory extends to the chain from Mountain of Moutier, which constitutes the highest point of Perrefitte with its height of 1158 m (3,799.2 ft).
The bordering communities are Moutier, Champoz
and Souboz
in canton of Bern, and Soulce
in canton of Jura
Perrefitte has an area of 8.6 km² (3.3 sq mi). Of this area, 29.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 66.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 3.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.5%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).
, within the French Department of Mont-Terrible
.
As from 1800, it becomes a part of the Haut-Rhin
Department, to which the department of Mont-Terrible was attached.
By decision of the congress of Vienna
, the territory of the old Basel
diocese
was allotted to canton of Bern, in 1815.
Perrefitte has an unemployment rate of 1%. , there were 31 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 9 businesses involved in this sector. 17 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 9 businesses in this sector. 41 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 15 businesses in this sector.
, which shall connect the Swiss motorway network with that of France, Perrefitte shall obtain a fast access to the other areas.
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
in the administrative district of Jura bernois in the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Bern in Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura
Bernese Jura
Bernese Jura is the name for the French-speaking area of the Swiss canton of Bern, and from 2010 one of five administrative divisions of the canton....
(Jura Bernois).Its old German names Beffert and Pfeffert are no longer in use today.
Demographics
Perrefitte has a population (as of ) of . , 13.7% of the population was made up of foreign nationals. Over the last 10 years the population has decreased at a rate of -6%. Most of the population speaks French (84.2%), with German being second most common ( 9.2%) and Italian being third ( 2.9%).In the 2007 election the most popular party was the SPS
Social Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Social Democratic Party of Switzerland is the largest centre-left political party in Switzerland....
which received 35.7% of the vote. The next three most popular parties were the SVP
Swiss People's Party
The Swiss People's Party , also known as the Democratic Union of the Centre , is a conservative political party in Switzerland. Chaired by Toni Brunner, but spearheaded by Christoph Blocher, the party is the largest party in the Federal Assembly, with 58 members of the National Council and 6 of...
(33.4%), the FDP
Free Democratic Party of Switzerland
The Free Democratic Party was a classical liberal political party in Switzerland. It was one of the major parties in Switzerland until its merger with the smaller classical liberal Liberal Party, to form FDP.The Liberals on 1 January 2009....
(12.4%) and the CSP
Christian Social Party (Switzerland)
The Christian Social Party is a political party in Switzerland. The CSP is more social democratic than the CVP. With the moderate Christian left as its background, the CSP commits itself to social democratic and environmentalist political solutions...
(8%).
The age distribution of the population is children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 22.9% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 59.5% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.6%. In Perrefitte about 69.5% of the population (between age 25-64) have completed either non-mandatory upper secondary education or additional higher education (either university or a Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
).
The historical population is given in the following table:
| year | population |
|---|---|
| 1755 | 81 |
| 1850 | 236 |
| 1900 | 419 |
| 1950 | 403 |
| 1970 | 569 |
| 2000 | 476 |
Geography
Perrefitte is located at 600 meters of altitude. This old agricultural village lies 2 km (1.2 mi) west of MoutierMoutier
Moutier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...
, in the chain of the Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
, on the left bank of the Chalière brook, which merges into the Birse
Birse
Birse is a parish in the Lower Deeside area of Aberdeenshire, Scotland, which includes the communities of Finzean and Ballogie. However the name Birse is often used to refer only to the northwestern part of the parish which lies on the south side of the River Dee, Aberdeenshire, opposite the...
river in Moutier. It is the western part of the Grand Val (valley of Moutier). In the southern area Combe Fabet, a kind of small throat has formed a secondary valley, from where the Chalière flows down. The Moron
Moron
Moron may refer to* Moron , disused term for a person with a mental age between 8 and 12, and a common insult for a person considered stupid * "Moron" * "Moron"...
mountain marks the southern border of the community, rising to 1140 metres (3,740.2 ft) of altitude. To the North, the communal territory extends to the chain from Mountain of Moutier, which constitutes the highest point of Perrefitte with its height of 1158 m (3,799.2 ft).
The bordering communities are Moutier, Champoz
Champoz
Champoz is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...
and Souboz
Souboz
Souboz is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...
in canton of Bern, and Soulce
Soulce
Soulce is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland.-References:...
in canton of Jura
Canton of Jura
The Republic and Canton of the Jura , also known as the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is one of the cantons of Switzerland. It is the newest of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont...
Perrefitte has an area of 8.6 km² (3.3 sq mi). Of this area, 29.6% is used for agricultural purposes, while 66.3% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 3.6% is settled (buildings or roads) and the remainder (0.5%) is non-productive (rivers, glaciers or mountains).
History
The first written mention of the village goes back to 1295 under the name of Pierefite. In 1321 appears the Perefiten terminology, then followed by Pierefetteau, and in 1548 Pierrefette. This name is derived from the Latin “petra ficta”. The village remains incorporated to the Moutier-Grandval community until the end of the XVIIIe century. From 1797 to 1815, Perrefitte belongs to FranceFrance
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, within the French Department of Mont-Terrible
Mont-Terrible
Mont-Terrible was one of the 130 départements of Napoleonic France, with its capital at Porrentruy.The Mont Terrible for which the département was named is now known as mont Terri, a peak of 804 m near Courgenay, now in the canton of Jura, Switzerland.The département was created in 1793 with the...
.
As from 1800, it becomes a part of the Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...
Department, to which the department of Mont-Terrible was attached.
By decision of the congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...
, the territory of the old Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
diocese
Diocese
A diocese is the district or see under the supervision of a bishop. It is divided into parishes.An archdiocese is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or had importance due to size or historical significance...
was allotted to canton of Bern, in 1815.
Industry
Perrefitte was characterized for a long time by agriculture. Then, following the industrialization of Moutier, some small companies were established along the Chalière, at the border of Moutier. Within the last decades the village was transformed into a quiet residential area. Now, many of its inhabitants work in nearby Moutier or commute even much further.Perrefitte has an unemployment rate of 1%. , there were 31 people employed in the primary economic sector and about 9 businesses involved in this sector. 17 people are employed in the secondary sector and there are 9 businesses in this sector. 41 people are employed in the tertiary sector, with 15 businesses in this sector.
Transportation
The community lies along the cantonal road which connects Moutier with Bellelay via Souboz. Soon, with the finalization of the "transjura" motorway A16A16 motorway (Switzerland)
The A16, a motorway in north-central Switzerland, is a divided freeway connecting the border to France to the A5 motorway, to the south on the Swiss plateau....
, which shall connect the Swiss motorway network with that of France, Perrefitte shall obtain a fast access to the other areas.